Boeing’s Starliner Returns to Earth Uncrewed After Technical Issues Delay Astronauts’ Return

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft landed safely in New Mexico late Friday, concluding a three-month uncrewed test mission marked by technical challenges. Originally intended as the spacecraft’s final test before NASA certification, the mission was disrupted when faulty thrusters led NASA to deem the Starliner unsafe for crew return. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the first crew to fly Starliner, remain on the International Space Station (ISS) and are expected to return on a SpaceX vehicle in early 2025. The spacecraft reentered Earth’s atmosphere and landed smoothly using parachutes and airbags. Despite the successful landing, the thruster failures have raised concerns about Boeing’s future in space, particularly in light of ongoing competition from SpaceX. Boeing is conducting further investigations into the cause of the failures, which have already cost the company $125 million, adding to $1.6 billion in cost overruns since 2016.